People keep rearranging on me

Q I’m a bit fed up with people who think it’s all right to change arrangements at the last minute. I’ve often arranged other things around a meeting and end up having to kill time. Because I’m retired, I think they imagine it doesn’t matter to me. Andrea, Suffolk

A You may be right and they may think you have all the time in the world. It’s hard to know what it’s like to be another person unless you talk to them. The old concept of retired meaning you sit in front of the fire with your slippers on couldn’t be further from the truth. You need to explain that you also have a busy diary and, if they’re not free, you’ll have to carry on with your day and you’ll need to reschedule. If they don’t change and you do that a couple of times, people will soon get the message. Do remember, though, that sometimes we have no choice than to reschedule as life intervenes, so decide on each case on its merits, then you can respond appropriately.

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